Press for the production of bricks, briquettes, blocks, and the like



Mmhsl. 1925. l y 1,531,631v

E. R. SUTCLIFFE PRESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BRICKS, BRIQUETTES, BLOCKS,AND THE LIKE March 3l. 1925. 1,531,631

E. R. SUTCLIFFE PRESS FOR THE PRODUCTION oFBRIcxs, BRIQUETTES, BLOCKS,AND THE LIKE F1e d June 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Mar.31, 1925.

UNITED gSTATES PATENT OFFICE;

EDGAR ROUSE SUTCLIFFE, OF ITEIGI-IV, ENGLAND.

PRESS FOR THE PRODUCTION O'F BRICKS, BRIQUETTESV, BLOCKS, AND THE' LIKE.

Application iled .Tune 23, 1924. Serialv'No. 721,818.

To @ZZ w from t may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR Rouen SUT- oLirrn,a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 93Church Street, Leigh, Lancashire, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements Relating to Presses for the Production of Bricks,Briquettes, Blocks, and the like, of which vthe following is aspecification.

This invention relates to presses of the mould and plunger type for theproduction of bricks, briquettes, blocks and like consolidated massesfrom coal or like carbonaceous substances, concrete, clay or other subfstances or mixtures capable of being consolidated by pressure. f

The .invention has among its objects to provide a press in which theconsolidation of the charges and the ejection of the consolidated massesmay be carried out in a simple and effective manner, and to provide apress which is more especially `suitable for treating the substances tobe consolidated in wet condition.

Accordingto the invention there is provided a press for the productionof briquettes or consolidated masses of substances capable of beingconsolidatedunder pressure, wherein a single mechanism effects thecompression o'i the charge of the material to be consolidated in two ormore stageswithin a stationary mould and the ejection et theconsolidated mass from the mould is effected by the stroke ot theplunger being` extended beyond that necessary for the comnession of acharge.

According to the invention, moreover, the

stroke of the'plunger for effecting the com-l pression of the charge ofmaterial to beV vided in suoli manner that liquid contained in thecharge to be consolidated may be expressed therefrom either before orduring the operation or" compression by the action ot the plunger. l

According to the invention, moreover,

the plunger effectingcompression is advantageously adapted toreciprocate within the mould through a distance corresponding to thewidth of several of the consolidated masses, the inner limit of travelbeing, for

example, at a distance equal to the width of three of the masses fromthe discharge end of the mould, so that three of the masses alwaysremain within the mould during the operation of the press, and a movablecrossliead or auxiliary plunger, serving as a' According to theinvention, moreover, the

extension of the stroke of the plunger may be effected either by themechanism effecting the compression stroke or by mechanism speciallyprovided for the purpose, whilev the withdrawal of the'mould closuremember may be effected byl the plungervmechanism or by a distinctmechanism,'the movements of the plunger and of the mould closure memberbeing so determined that the pressure upon the consolidated masseswithin the mould during the operation of kejection is removed orreduced.

According to the invention, moreover, the4 pressure exerted by theplunger or plungers upon the material to be consolidated isadvantageously maintained uniform by means of va hydraulic plungerandcylinder device connected with the plunger o-perating mechanism andcommunicating'with an accumu` lator iii-which the liquid ismaintainedunder a determined head or pressure.

v According to the invention, moreover, the movable mould closure memberor auxiliary plunger may be` mounted to operate in a cross-headconnected by bolts of ample cross sectional area. with a secondcross-head which conveniently carries the cylinder of thefhydrauliccylinder and plunger device before referred to. The-compressing plungermay be mounted in a lixed bearing and heads` before referred to maybesupported contacting surfaces being ground.

by pivoted linls from, or be slidably mounted upon, the base plate ofthe press and may be adapted to receive a reciproeatory nievementwhereby, after the consolidation of the charge Within the mould, thedischarge may be effected bythe mloveinent of the crosslieads and theconsequent movement of the plungers in rclatien to the mould chamber.V

rl`he reciprocation of the cross-heads and the bolts may conveniently beeffected by means of an operating arm or lever actuated by a caniforming a part of the operating mechanisi'n of the press or actuated byindependentv mechanism.

According to .the invention, moreover, in the use of a hydraulicpressure control device, meansare advantageously provided to ensure that'when the pressure applied upon the plunge or plungers ceases, theoperating` mechanism may not be immediately subjected to the fullpressure exerted by the accumulator. l

'The mould may be of any suitable construction. It may, for example,`comprise a chamber of cross section corresponding to that' of theblocks or consolidated masses to be produced andV of a length suflicientto permit of the reciprocatioii therein, according to the cycle ofoperations, of compressing plunger of corresponding cross section andtoprovide space for one or more of the blocks orr consolidated masses .tobe pro- Aabovefthe mould and be fitted with a feed screw or other devicefor effecting a doivnward feed of the substance ivith pressure into themould. y

The Walls of the mould are advantageous- `ly formed of series oflongitudinal or transverse bars disposed side by side with their lateralfaces in contact vat least over a-.por-

tion! ofl the surface' lying immediately ad-V jacent the inner face ofthe mould bars, the lly such means under the pressure exerted upon thecharge the contained liquid is expressed betiveeii the bars forming themould Without escape of the substance of the charge. Any otherconstruction of the mould permitting liquid to be expressed may be used.Thus, the wallsv of the mould maybe perforated Y or slotted, and beformed, for example', by

iserfoijatcd or slotted lining plates suitably a construction of themould is required only in the consolidation of Wet substances but may beemployed in the case of dry substances.

In substitution for the movable crosshead or movable closure memberbefore referred to, a second plunger may be adapted to reciprocateWithin or at the discharge end of the mould. The said plunger may beprovided to be reciprocated eithermechanically or underiiuid orhydraulic pressure and the bearing or cylinder Within which 4it operatesmay be conveniently carried by a fixed crosshead. operated independentlyof the compressing plunger by distinct driving mechanism for the tvvoplungers may be so relatively mounted as to be operated by a singletoggle or other mechanism.

In the provision of a hydraulic plunger and cylinder device formaintaining thepressure uniform, the plunger or the cylinder isconnected to the gearing operating the compressing plunger in suchmanner that Such plunger lmay be adapted to bek on the forward movementof the compressanism from the accumulator. pressure, ivhen the .pressureupon the compressing plunger `is relaxed, may conveniently comprise anon-return valve disposed in a` connection y between the hydrauliccylinder and the accumulator and a bypass of small cross sectional area`permitting a restricted'floiv of liquid from the accumulator to thehydraulic cylinder when the non-return valve is closed. Such bypass: maybe advantageously provided in the non-return valve. V

The material to bebi'iquetted may advantageously be reduced to a uniformcondition of extreme iineness in the dry state,or in the Wet state Wherethe material may have been ground with Water. `And with a vieu7 to avoidthe use of a binder and tosecure eifective consolidation, the method ofconsolidation the subject-matter of the priorl Patent No.V 1,267,711 isemployed,that is toV say the material to be briquetted is subjected tocompressionV in a completely closed mould spacev under such conditionsthat the expansion of the block or consolidated Ymass is permit-ted in adirection transverse to the line of application of the pressure appliedleu under the stresses created Within the mould as the result ofthecompression. This may to taper outward towards the discharge end thereofas described in the specification of the prior patent aforesaid.

In the accompanying drawings is represented a construction of the pressprovided according to the invention, by way of eX- ample. 1

Figure l is a sectional elevation of one construction o-f press.

Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the mould chamber represented in Figuresl and 2, to an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional elevation.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the construction ofpress represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, thevpress consists of a feed hopper and mould with the compressingmechanism at the forward end and the driving and ejecting mechanism atthe rear, all

. supported upon a substantially rectangular and horizontally disposedbase plate a. Pairs of links a1, (z2 pivoted respectively upon a bracketor brackets a3 and lugs formed upon the base plate a serve to supportthe cross-heads c before referred to which are connected by bolts Z oflample cross sectional area. The mould c is mo-unted in determinedposition upontlie body of the feed hopper f which is supported upon thebase plate a. The mould is advantageously of such a form as tio taperoutwardly towards the discharge end thereof as described in thespecification of the prior patent aforesaid. Y

The mould comprises a tubular structure of cross sectioncorresponding'to that of the blocks or consolidated masses to be formedand of a length corresponding, for example, to not less than the widthof four .or five of such blocks. IVithin the feed hopper f there isprovided in continuation of the mould a corresponding tubular structureof slide-way f1 within which the compressing plunger f/ may reciprocateand into which `the substance to be consolidated may be delivered fromthe feed hopper f, which may be provided with a feed'device such asavrotatable screw,'or vane mechanism serving to feed the substance intothe mould u'nder pressure. The walls of the mould andof the slide-wayf1, if desirable, are constructed in such manner as to permit the liquidcontained in the charge to be'consolidated to be discharged under theaction ofl the compressing plunger. In the construction` represented inFigure 3 of the drawings, the mould is formed of a series of kbars e1-of suitable cross section disposed adjacent one` f. the free flow ofthe liquid' to the accumuanother so that their lateral faces e2 are incontact adjacent the inner Vsurface of the mould, theV said faces beingground. wards the outer surface of the mould the To-s lateral faces e2are disposed apart so that channels for the passagev of. the liquid areprovided. A trough e3, or alternatively a casing enclosing the sectionalor yperforated portion of the mould, is litted to receive the liquiddischarged from the Imould and lto convey it to a waste conduit. Thedegree of moisture or content of water in the substance ltreated may, ofcourse, vary. Thus, in the treatment of coal the chargesV received intothe mould may consist of one part coal tov one and a half to two partslof water or may bea mixture containing say 25% of water.` Y

The compressing plunger g which reciprocates within the slide-way flandthe mould e, is carried upon a slide block h disposed within a bearing71,1 provided uponv the base plate immediately to the rear of the feedhopper f. f

VTo the rear there are provided upon the base plate two laterallydisposed .pedestals or standards i1 adapted to Acarry ahorizontally `andtransversely disposed operating shaft z'driven'by spur gearingor thelike. The said shaft is cranked and has connected thereto a connectingrod i2, to the free end of which is connected a bell crank lever 3,

or pressure-exerting elementy of a toggle mechanism connected `to thecompressing plunger by a :pivoted flink if and pivotally mounted uponthe links a2 and under the action of a plunger y' adapted to reciprocatewithin a hydraulic cylinder jl mounted or provided in the adjacent'cross-head c. The plunger is Vthus adapted to slide into the cyliinder when the pressure on thecharge'eX- ceeds apredetermined value, thecross-head Z) serving to resist the pressure at the opposite side of thecharge. The cylinder ji is advantageously provided, as 1n theconstruction illustrated in Figure 4, with an'in' wardly projectingport-ion orrrib 7'2 at the middle of the length for 13o-operation withla portion of reduced diameter in the plunger j. The innermost portion ofthe plunger j may be adapted to reciprocate within a lining jr" mountedwithin the rear end of the cylinder and is advantageously fitted withmeans for forming a fluid tight joint. The cylinder is closed attherearendby a cover j* which also is provided for the formation lof a Huidtight joint. A passageis provided through thel cylinder covercommunieating by way of a swivel joint j? with a pipe i6 which isconnected, also by a swivel joint, with a pipe leading to an accumulatorin which hydraulic pressures-is maintained by means of a pump orthe'like. In the length of the said pipe or conduit there is provided anon-return valve jl ypermitting later; For the return of .the'liquidinto the cylinder there is provided a by-pass passage js of smallVdiameter through the valve.`

lun

Yio

ly to the axis of the mould to close the mould dischargeopening and mayco-operate with the compressing plunger in effecting the consolida-tionof the charges.

For this purpose the mould closure mem- Y ber bi is supported by asystem of levers a-ndlinks Xso connected to the 'stationary feed hopperand the reciprocating cross-head b' that, on the movementrof separationof the cross-head from the mould, the closure mem,

ber b1 is lifted. The same system of levers and links or a distinctsystem may -serve for the operation of a striker bar and yser per bywhich the consolidated mass'to be ejected may be :separated from those,in the mould.

and which is pressed by springs first against. the face of Vthe mass:projecting from the mould and later against fthe face of the mould andon the return stroke' strikes: off

the mass and scrapes the face of the mould.V The striker bar isconveniently carried upon two arms pivoted upon the pivot pin of themould closure meinbei' and having auxiliary larms or Iextensionsadaptedto kengage the upper forward edge of the vcross-head or camsurfacesprovided thereon so as to be maintained ina position to carrythe striker bar in front of the projecting mass on theV upward movementof the mould closure member. Alternatively, other means may be-provided'for the removal of the consolidated masses. Thus, in a position imme- 1diately adjacent the discharge lendv of the mould chamber there may beprovided a ro- Y tatable cutter or guillotine in the form of a stai'wheel with a series of radiating blades and operatedfrom the Vpressmechanism by suitable gear. l

By reason of the manner in which the cross-headsv b, c, and the bell`crank lever i are supported'from the base plate L the ejecj tion of theconsolidated masses from the mould is effected by a= movement ofthe saidY par-ts .in a manner to'secure continued forward movement of theco'i'npressing4 plunger Ag andsimilar movement of the cross-head Z). Forthispurpose a spurwheel Z, mounted loosely upon the shaft 21, and driven'by a pinion 'or Vthe like, carries a caniplate Z1 having a cam groovein which engages a roller carried upon an arm or `lever Z2 mounted upona rocking shaft Z3 to whichy isalsa secured a pair of arms for leversZ4. A connecting rod Z5, of adpistable length,

connects the arms or levers Zwith the coverl plate 3* of the hydraulicYcylinder rlhe adjustment fof the cam plate upon fthe shaft i is such asto ensure that the compressing plunger will have completed the strokeimparted to it bythe lto,f 'gle mechanism and will have begun thekreturn movement be! fore the cross-heads and connected parts begin vtomove. Thus pressure lupon the consolidated masses is relieved and thenecessary increase in the dist-ance between the mould closure memberV,and the plunger se'- eured that is required to release the mouldclosure member and permit it to move up wardly without contacting withthe adjacent consolidated mass. i

`The cycle of operations-with the press hereinbefore described is asfollows Under normal conditions of Working there are two consolidatedmasses in the mould c at'. the time when the plunger g completes itsrearwardst-roke; during this stroke the mouldV is opened and a charge ofthe substance to be consolidated is forced in from'the vfeed hopper f. i

y During the Working or pressure stroke the plunger moves forward,closing the mould and compressing the charge trappedtherein so that theliquid contained by it is expressed between the vbars. el forming themould.

At theV end ofthe pressure ystroke there are three consolidated massesin the mould.

rotation of the cam Z1 has caused no move-y ment of theppressingmechanismpbut inthe early part of the ,return stroke of the plunger, thecam causes the forward Vmovementof the crossfheads Z) and c and thebolts CZ, so that the plunger g is forced yforward-and the forward massis ejected, the other two being moved` along the n'1ould,rlsaving spacefor a fresh charge.

vThe movementiof 'the kcross-head vZ) llifts the closure or pressurelplate b1 and operates the striker fbar 'and scraper Ywhich strikes offVthe mass and scrapes' the faceof the mould. By the-time the plungerreaches the endof-'its return stroke, *the* cam has brought' thepressing mechanism back toy its normal pos'ition'fol1 Vthe consolidationofithe n ext charge. A

The rejection stroke-isthe resultant oflthe combine-d motions of thecrank andftoggle links7 andthe cam, and .its extent vcan be varie/dif'desired by 'delaying'the action of the latter' by sliding the drivingpinion outY of mesh` with they wheel Z, rotating the latter f on thecrankshaft, andl bringing-the pinion into mesh again.

The charge to be consolidated maybe -prepared undervarious`conditions,'for example',

byfr'educing part ofthefiaw material with Waterto avery finelydividedand substantiallyY uniform condition, V`rsoithat a great portionwill'V passthrougrh a screen of 200 meshes -to the linear inch, tovproduce a slip orslurry, mixing they slip or slurry With-fthe remainderof the raw material in coarser or granular, but substantiallyuniform,particles adapted' to serve as a water filtering me'diumdistributedthroughout the mass and brique/[ting the wet mass under high pressure insuch manner as to filter the greater part of the water therefrom, or byproducing an emulsion by grinding pitch to fine condition in water,mixing the said emulsion with the substance to be briquetted and heatingthe mixed mass to a temperature not exceeding 9,120 F and finallycompressing the mixed mass for the expulsion of the water and for theproduction of a solid fand coherent block without further treatment. l

Means advantageously operated from the driving mechanism may be providedto effect the discharge of the consolidated masses from the moulds ofthe mould table and the discharge may be effected at a point below themould chamber. The discharge mechanism may be operated from the maingear or from independent gear.

It will be understood that the invention is no-t limited to the featuresof construction hereinbefore described, since this may be obviouslyvarie'd without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a briquette press, a stationary mould; means for feeding materialto saidmould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould;means for moving said plunger to effect said compression; andadditionalmeans for moving said plunger, whereby its st-roke may be extendedbeyond that necessary to effect said compression, to 'discharge saidmaterial from said mould, said additional means operating during aportion of the return stroke of said fiist named means. n

In a briquette press, a stationary mould; means for feeding material tosaid mould; a plunger adapted to compress saidy material in said mould;means for moving said plunger to effect said compression; additionalmeans for moving said plunger, whereby its stroke may be extended beyondthat necessary to effect said compression, tol discharge said materialfrom said mould, said additional means operating during a portion of thereturn stroke of said rst named means; and a yieldable connectioninterposed between said additional meansv return stroke of saidiirstfnamed means; and a yieldable fiuid pressure connection betweensaid additional means and said plunger, whereby the pressure of thelatter in said mould may be controlled.

4. Inl a briquette press,- a stationary mould; means for feedingmaterial to said mould; a. plunger adapted to compress said material insaid mould; means for moving said plunger to effect said compression;additional means for moving said plunger to extend its stroke beyondthatobtainable by said first named means, said additional meansoperating during a portion of the return stroke of said first namedmeans; a yieldable fluid. pressure connection between said additionalmeans and said plunger, whereby the pressure of the latter in said mouldmay be controlled; and an ejecting member normally closing one end ofsaid mould, said member being operable by movement of said additionalmeans to open said mould and toeject a compressed briquette therefrom.

5. In a briquet-te press, a stationary mould; means for feeding materialto said mould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in saidmould; means including` .a toggle connection for moving said plunger toeffect said compression; a bodily ino-vable fluid pressure cylinder; apiston in said cylinder, movable relative thereto; connections betweensaid piston and said toggle connection, whereby the pressure exerted bysaid plunger in said mouldmay be controlled by the fluid pressure insaid cylinder; and cam ice Y means for bodily moving ,said cylinderlwhereby the length of the plunger stroke may be extended to eject thecompressed material from said mould.

6. In a briquette press, a stationary mould; means for feeding materialto said mould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in saidmould; a plurality of connected cross-heads movable in the samedirection as said plunger; means for moving` said plunger; a toggleconnection. between said moving means, said plunger and one of saidcross heads; a bodily movable fluid pressure cylinder; a piston in saidcylinder, movable relative thereto; connections between said piston andsaid cross-head; whereby the pressure exerted by said plunger in saidmould may be controlled by the fluid pressure in said cylinder; and camVmeans for bodily moving said cylinder, whereby the length of theplunger stroke may be extended A to eject the compressed .material fromsaid mould.

7. I n a briquette press, a base, a stationary mould mounted on -saidbase; 'means for feeding material to said mould; a plunger adapted tocompress said material in said mould; a plurality of links pivotallymounted on said base; a pluralitybof connected cross-heads; Carriedbysaid-links and movable in the same direction as saidplung'er; means formoving `said:k plunger; a toggle oonneotionbetweensaid moving mea-ns,said plunger and one of-gsaidoross heads.; a bodily plunger insaid mouldmay be oontrolledby v the luidzpressure in said cylinder; and cam meansfor bodily moving said cylinder, whereby the length ofl the plunger'stroke may be extendedto eject the compressed material from said mould.

8. In da; briquette press, a Stationary mould,- means for feedingmaterial to said -mouldg a plunger adapted to compress said material insaid mould; a pair of Connected cross-,heads movable in the samedirection as said plunger.; a mould closure mem-ber Carried by one ofsaid cross-heads, means for moving said plunger; a toggle connectionbetween said moving means, said plunger, andthe other. of saidcross-beads, a bodily movable fluid'pressure cylinder; a piston in saidcylinder; connections.' between said piston and last mentionedcross-head; Vand means for bodily moving said cylinder.

EDGAR HOUSE SUTCLIFFE.

